Need a pattern for a 'dolly' bag?

Mup_2

Hi
I googled the above query but am unable to find a pattern for a dolly bag - the sort of drawstring bag you see little kids or brides carrying.

They look pretty straightforward but cost £30 (cheapest I found so far!) and the amount of material involved is minimal.

Anyone able to give advice/tips on how to make this type of bag? Not sure where to start but could make a pattern out of newspaper with some help!

Thanks,
Mup.

thriftlady_2

I haven't made one but my mum used to make them for me to match hm dresses when I was little in the 70s.She just cut out a circle of fabric I think.But you would need to hem the edge and put in a casing for the drawstring and I'm not sure how easy it is to hem a curved edge.Maybe edging with lace would solve that problem?HTH

SallyinWales

Its easier to cut either two circles, sew them together(right side togethe, leave a little gap for turning!) then turn in teh right way and sew two lines of stitching an inch and an inch and a half (or wherever you want) in from the edge to take the string. Poke a tiny hole with a bodkin or knitting needle and run a cord through, and hey presto, one dolly bag.
Be warned, you usually need a much bigger circle than you think, cut one out of newspaper and scrunch it into shape to get a rough idea of how big and where to put the lacing channel.

Alternatively, use a circle for the base and a rectangle for the sides, makes a little round bottomed 'sack' that is easy to hem and finish

Pooky

I'd go for the cirlce and rectangle idea, draw round a plate or something similar to the size of base you need, allow extra for seams. Measure the outside edge of your circle and this will tell you how long your rectangle needs to be, cut to the hight you want - again allowing for seams all round.

You can always get adventurous and make the rectangle bigger and do a running stitch along, gather and sew to the base.

Use some pretty ribbon threaded through the top seam as the handle.

valtardan

I make lovely dolly bags, if you would like me to send you a cut out of the pattern, please let me know and i will post it to you!

lizzyb1812

Here you go - instructions and downloadable template.

http://www.things-to-make-and-do.co.uk/fabric-and-sewing/bags/drawstring-bag.html